Details

Mobile subscribers worldwide increasingly depend on a variety of mobile devices to stay connected. One mobile subscriber can use many mobile connections, as is evidenced by many countries’ current mobile penetration rates of more than 100 per cent. In addition to a mobile phone or smartphone, a subscriber can connect through a tablet or, increasingly, an embedded modem in a connected car or through a connected device in the Internet of Things (IoT).

The number of mobile connections in each region of the world is expected to grow at different rates, due to differences in the world’s regions’ underlying economies, the regions’ willingness and eagerness to adopt new technologies, and the current strength or weakness of their economies.

The worldwide population is expected to grow over the next five years from its current 7.3 billion people. Worldwide mobile connections, which are currently at an approximately 100 percent penetration rate, are also growing from 7.3 billion connections in 2015 to reach almost 9.4 billion in 2020. Due to the proliferation of mobile devices, including mobile phones, tablets, connected cars, and other IoT devices, the global wireless penetration rate will rise from 100 percent in 2015 to 122 percent in 2020.

Aside from the increase in the number of connections, the other major change over the forecast period is the shift from 2G to 3G and 4G. For example, in 2015, 2G connections comprised almost half of all mobile connections. As these 2G connections decline over the next five years, 3G and 4G connections will become predominant.

This market study forecasts mobile connections for each region of the world for the next five years and categorizes the connections by technology type - both air interface and generation.

Key Questions Answered

How many wireless connections are there globally and in each major geographic region?

What is the split of those connections by technology type – both air interface and generation?

What are some of the key connection-related trends by technology, including GSM, CDMA, UMTS/HSPA, and LTE for the world and for each region?

What are the major markets for LTE both today and throughout the forecast period?

When does iGR expect LTE to become a significant portion of the various regions over the forecast period?